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Faithful BeginningsReadiness Guide

Faithful BeginningsReadiness Guide

A Faith-Based Guide Combining Readiness Milestones,Basic Faith Truths, and Simple Activities

for Parents and Their Children

Dear Friends,

As the mother of 5 children, I understand many of the stresses and challenges that parenting can bring. That is why I am excited to share with you the Faithful Beginnings Readiness Guide. It combines important kindergarten readiness milestones, basic faith truths, scriptures, and simple activities parents can do at home with their children. It is not intended to be a doctrinal work, but simply a collection of ideas to strengthen families and congregations. Several different translations of scriptures have been used to communicate the teachings. Our hope is that you will use this as a guide to expand and explore many of the ideas presented with your family. This is simply a place to begin.

As you use this guide, we encourage you to:

•PraythatGodwillequipyouonthejourneyoffaithandparenting. •Looktoyourownplaceofworshipforsupportandguidance.

•Spendtimewithyourchildren!Youwillbothbenefitfromthistimetogether.

IhavebeendelightedandrelievedbythepartnershipthatGodprovidesaswelooktohimtohelpus raise our children. As a mother, a verse that greatly encourages me is Isaiah 40:11:

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his armsand carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. MayGodblessandinspireyouandyourchildren.

LisaN.RobertsonFounder and ChairFaithful Beginnings

Faithful Beginnings

www.E3VA.org12SouthThirdStreet|Richmond,VA23219|804-441-8336

Language And Literacy 3

Math And Science 7

Personal And Social Development 10

Physical And Motor Development 13

A Faithful BeginningFaithful Beginnings consists of faith leaders, educators, and community leaders committed to reaching the youngest children in our com-munities to better prepare them to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Faithful Beginnings brings the faith community together to support families and children through the following efforts:

Awareness—Making congregations aware of the importance of the early years and supplying them with tools and resources to educate their families.

Advocacy—Speakingwithaunifiedvoicetoourcommunities and elected officials about the importance of strengthening families and prioritizing our children’s earliest years.

Parent Support—Equippingparentstobetheirchildren’sfirstandmostimportantteachers.

Faithful BeginningsisaninitiativesponsoredbyE3:ElevateEarlyEducation,astatewideadvocacy movement created by business, civic, and philanthropic leaders working to address theurgentneedforincreasedpublicinvestmentinearlyeducationforVirginia’schildren,birthtoagefive.Foradditionalinformation,pleasevisitwww.E3VA.org

Table of Contents

Can Your Child: Scriptural Truth: Related Scriptures: Activities:You CanTeach Your

Child to:

Language And Literacy

Hold conversations, listen, ask and answer questions.

Listen to and enjoy stories and nursery rhymes.

TalktoGod.

EnjoystoriesaboutGod.

Godhearsandanswers our prayers.

YouareapartofGod’swonderfulstory.

Those who listen to me will live in safety. They willnotworry.Proverbs1:33(NIRV)

HearmewhenIcall,OGod.Psalm4:1(NKJV)

Everyone will come to you because you answer prayer.Psalm65:2(CEV)

NoahdideverythingtheLORDtoldhimtodo.Genesis6:22(CEV)

TrusttheLordandhismightypower.Rememberhismiraclesandallhiswonders...Psalm105:4-5(CEV)

Bestrongandcourageous!Donotbeafraidordiscouraged.FortheLordyourGodiswithyouwhereveryougo.Joshua1:9(NLT)

Godwantstotalktoyou.Alwayslisten,soyoucanlearntohear his voice.

TeachyourchildtotalktoGodliketheywouldtalktotheirfriend.

Remember your manners when you pray.

I’m sorry—TellGodyou’resorryforwaysyou’vehurthimor others.

Thank you—ThankGodforyourlifeandfamily.

Please—AskGodtohelpyoueveryday.

ReadanexcitingBiblestorylike:–Noah’sArk(Genesischapters6-9)–JonahandtheWhale(Jonah1)–DavidandGoliath(1Samuel17)–JoshuaandJericho(Joshua1-6)

Retellthestorytoyourchildandrelateittoreallifeexperiences(obeying,listeningtoGod,rainstorms,animals,rainbows,etc).

Usethestoryforpretendplay—pretendtobeNoah,David,orJoshuaandactitout.

MarcharoundtheroomandpretendtobeinJericho.Movequicklyandslowly.Makeloudandsoftnoises.Shout,sing,and whisper as you march.

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Child to:


Say or sing familiar songs and rhymes.

Sing about God.

Godissogoodtous and he loves to hear us sing.

YouhavebeengoodtomeLord,andIwillsingaboutyou.Psalm13:6(CEV)

SingtoGod,everyoneandeverything.1Chronicles16:23(MSG)

SingyourheartsouttoGod!Psalm30:4(MSG)

MakeajoyfulshouttotheLord.Psalm100:1(NKJV)

ThankGod!Praytohimbyname!Telleveryoneyoumeetwhathehasdone!Singhimsongs...Psalm100:1-2(MSG)

Chooseafavoritescriptureandsettoafamiliartune:YankeeDoodle;Twinkle,TwinkleLittleStar;Row,Row,RowYourBoat, etc.

(Example to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) Godmademe,Hemadeyou,too.Godmadetheanimalsatthezoo.Every day He shows His love; In the sky way up above.Sun and Moon and stars at night. Swe-etDreamsandSlee-eeeptight.

MakeupanewrhymeaboutGod’slove.

Love,love,lovetheLord,As you grow and play,Loveyourneighborasyourself,Happy you will stay.

Name and describe objects, places, pictures and events.

DescribeGod’screation.

Godmadetheearthand everything in it.

Youmadethemoonstotellustheseasons.Thesunknowswhentoset.Psalm104:19(CEV)

TheheavenstellaboutthegloryofGod.Theskies show that his hands created them. Psalm19:1(NIRV)

InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.Genesis1:1(NLT)

Takeyourchildoutsideatnightandfindthemoonandthestars. Talk about what you see; the different phases of the moon—newmoon,half-moonandfullmoon.TeachyourchildthatGodcreatedthesun,themoon,thestarsandyour child.

Draw and cut out the shapes of the moon and the stars. Putthemonthechild’sceiling.

LookforpicturesofGod’screation.Describetoeachotherwhat you see.

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Child to:


Use imagination to create own stories.

Use complete sentences.

Be creative and dramatic with their words and actions.

Learnsimpleverses.

Godhasaplanforyou and he is always with you.

God’swordsaretrueand can be trusted.

Lord,Iwillpraiseyouwithallmyheart.Iwilltellabout all of the miracles you have done. Psalm9:1(NIRV)

AllwhoworshipGod,comehereandlisten;Iwilltellyoueverything Godhasdoneforme.Psalm66:16(CEV)

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah29:11(MSG)

TrustintheLordwithallyourheart.Proverbs3:5(NLT)

TheLordismyshepherd,IhaveeverythingIneed.Psalm23:1(NCV)

WhenIamafraid,Iwilltrustinyou.Psalm56:3(NIV)

ReadtogethersomeofthemostpopularBiblestories—Noah’sArk,DavidandGoliath,Esther,Ruth,DanielintheLion’sDen,etc.

Askafewsimplequestionsrelatedtothestorysuchas:How did the characters feel? Can you imagine yourself in thestory?Whowouldyoube?(Yourchildcanbeaperson,atree,awhale,alion,etc.)

Now,actoutthestorywithyourchild.Think of adding props and costumes.

Whatdoyouwanttobewhenyougrowup?TalktoyourchildaboutallthewonderfulpossibilitiesorplansthatGodhas for them.

Teachfamiliarversesandhavethechildfillintheblankandemphasize different words.

TrustintheLord,withallofyour .

Trust in the , with of your heart.

TheLordis shepherd, I have everything I .

TheLordismy , I have I need.

WhenIamafraid, will trust in you. WhenIam , I will in you.

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Child to:


Recognize words or signs he or she sees often.

Payattentionto the world around them.

Godguidesuseveryday.

Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Jeremiah31:21(NIV)

Youleadmealongtherightpaths.Psalm23:3(CEV)

Whetheryouturntotherightortotheleft,youwillhearavoicesaying,“Thisistheroad!Nowfollowit.”Isaiah30:21(CEV)

Street signs guide us and keep us safe. Teach your child to recognizeandunderstandSTOP,speedlimits,yield,red,yellow, and green lights.

Askyourchild,“WhenmightGodtellyoutostop?Ormoveforward? Or be careful?”

“WhatarethesignsthatGodhasgivenusthatweneedtorecognize?”

Play“RedLight,GreenLight”-childrenwilllearnwhentostop and go.

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Name some familiar letters.

Learnandrecognize the letters of the alphabet.

Lettersareimpor-tanttoGodbecausewords are one of the ways he speaks to us.

Yourwordisalamptomyfeetandalightformypath.Psalm119:105(NIV)

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it alwaysproducesfruit.Isaiah55:10-11(NLT)

EverywordofGodisperfect.Proverbs30:5(NIRV)

Talk to your child about how the letters in the scriptures makeupGod’swordandGodusesthemtospeaktous.

Teach your child to recognize the letters in their name.

Introduce letters to your child—cut out different letters you want them to know and place them in a visible place, like the door of the refrigerator.

Choose different letters and work with your child to come upwithdifferentthingsGodmade.B—butterfly, bears, babiesM—men, mice, mommiesL—lions,laughing,light


Child to:

Math and Science

Count to 10 or higher.

Count five objects by touching each one in turn.

Count.

Count their blessings.

God’sgreatness,love and power cannot be measured.

Godhasmoreblessings for us than we can count.

God,yourthoughtsaboutmearepriceless.Noonecanpossiblyaddthemallup.IfIcouldcount them, they would be more than the grains ofsand.Psalm139:17-18(NIRV)

God’slovecanalwaysbetrusted,andhisfaith-fulness lasts as long as the heavens. Psalm89:2(CEV)

IcancountallMybones.Psalm22:17(NKJV)

Youhavegivenhimblessingsthatwilllastforever.Youhavemadehimgladandjoyfulbecauseyouarewithhim.Psalm21:6(NIRV)

SingoutyourthankstotheLord;singpraisestoourGod...Psalm147:7(NLT)

Getasmallhandfulofsandorriceandseehowmanygrainsyoucancount.LetyourchildknowhowGodthinksaboutthem more than all of the grains of sand.

EnjoyGod’screation.FindandcounttenthingsthatGodmade—pinecones, seashells, leaves, flowers, sticks, etc. For an extra challenge, count them and sort them in groups of twos and threes. Teach your child about their bones. How many bones can you count?

Counttheirfingersandtoes.

Sing“HeadShouldersKneesandToes.”

Countyourblessings!1 blessing—the beautiful day2 blessings—your mother and father 3blessings—yourhealth,yourhome,yourdog4 blessings—your 2 feet and 2 hands5 blessings—5 family and friends.

Name5thingsthatareblue,5thataresoft,hard,etc.

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Child to:

Math and Science

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Recognize some numbers.

Name the colors in a box of eight crayons.

Learntoseenumbers in their world.

Recognizeand learn the colors.

Godusesnumberstoo!

Godkeepshispromises.

BytheseventhdayGodhadfinishedtheworkhe had been doing. So on the seventh day he restedfromallofhiswork.Genesis2:2(NIRV)

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain aheartofwisdom.Psalm90:12(NIV)

The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever.Genesis9:12-13(CEV)

As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliantcolors.Job38: 14(NLT)

ReadthestoryofcreationinGenesis1-2:1-3.Talkabouteachday.Writenumbers1-7andhaveyourchilddrawpicturesundereachnumbertoshowwhatGodmadeoneachday.(Youcanalsousethistimetoteachaboutthedaysoftheweek.)Day 1— day and nightDay 2—skyDay3—land,ocean,plants,andtreesDay 4—sun, moon, starsDay5—birds,fishDay6—animals,manDay7—Godrested

CountthedaysoftheweekandtalkabouthowGodmadeeach one. 1—Monday 2—Tuesday, etc

Name the basic shapes: circle, triangle, square, and rectangle.

Recognizeshapes.

Godisthecreatorofthe world.

InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.Genesis1:1(NIV)

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.Psalm89:11(NLT)

Talkaboutcreation-whatdidGodmakethatisacircle?(sun,theearth)atriangle?(trees)asquare?

Inyourhome—whatdoyouseethatisround?square?rectangular?

Have your child draw shapes and decorate them.

Findapictureofarainbow.TalkabouthowGodusedarainbowasapromisetoNoahthathewaswiththemandhe had a plan.

Take a box of crayons, chalk, or markers and draw a rainbow or a sunrise. Help your child to name the colors.


Child to:

Math and Science

Match and sort by size, shape and color.

Compare and describe objects and sounds in the environment in terms of shape, size, color, texture, material, sound, or rate of movement.

Explore cause and effect relationships.

Understand differences in shapes, colors, and numbers.

Recognizesimilarities and differences.

Lookatthingscarefully. Observe the world around them.

Godcreatedeverything in a uniqueway.

Godtakescareofyou and wants us to take care of the world around us.

Godplantsusonearth and watches us grow.

TheLordGodplacedallkindsofbeautifultreesandfruittreesinthegarden….Genesis2:9(CEV)

Bring a pair of every kind of animal into the boat withyou.Genesis6:19(NLT)

Youaregoodtoeveryone,andyoutakecareofallyourcreation.Psalm145:9(CEV)

Godsawthatitwasgood.Genesis1:25(NIV)

I will bless those who trust me. They will be like trees growing beside a stream—trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves thatarealwaysgreen.Jeremiah17:7-8(CEV)

KeepyoureyesopenforGod,watchforhisworks…Psalm105:4(MSG)

…but a true friend sticks by you like family. Proverbs18:24(CEV)

Getmanydifferentkindsoffood—peas,carrots,cereal,crackers, tomatoes, etc. and sort them by shape, colors, and size.Gooutsideandgatherleaves,pebbles,sticks,flowersand talk about their shapes and color.

ReadaboutNoahandtalkaboutthedifferentanimals.Howmanylegs?Fur,feathersorfins?Dotheyrun,hoporfly?

Teach your child about recycling and talk about the differences of paper, plastic, aluminum, etc.

TalkaboutthedifferencebetweensoundsthatGodmadeinnatureandsoundsthatmanmade.GooutsideandlistentogetherforsoundsthatGodmadeandsoundsthatwemake.

Talk about the difference in size and texture between all parts of his creation: stones vs. leaves; dirt vs. grass; air vs. water; rain vs. snow; light vs. dark; a mountain vs. a hill; a lake vs. a puddle, etc.

Plantseedsinapapercuporaneggcartonandwatchthem grow.

Talk about the changes of the seasons, changes from day tonight,orchangesaspeoplegrowup.Lifeisfilledwithmany changes.

Playwithmagnetsandtalkabouthowjustlikethemagnetssticktogether,Godsticksclosetous.

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Child to:

Personal And Social Development

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Express wants and needs using words rather than actions.

Adjust to new environments and experiences.

TellGodand others exactly what they need.

Understand thatlifeisfilledwith many changes.

YoucantalktoGodabout anything and he hears us.

Godiswithuswhenwe are happy or sad.

I pray to you and you answer from your sacred hill.Psalm3:4(CEV)

Pleaselisten,LordGod,andanswermyprayers.Psalm13:3(CEV)

WhenIcalledouttoyou…youheardmeandanswered my prayer. Psalm18:6(CEV)

Youmakemylifepleasantandmyfutureisbright.Psalm16:6(CEV)

Sobestrongandcourageous!Donotbeafraidanddonotpanicbeforethem.Forthe Lord yourGodwillpersonallygoaheadofyou.Hewillneither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy31:6(NLT)

At night we may cry but when morning comes wewillcelebrate.Psalm30:5(CEV)

Prayshortprayers—oneortwosentences—withyourchild.

Focus on one thing that’s going on in your child’s life and haveyourchildtalktoGodaboutit.

HavethechildthankGodforansweringprayers.

Spend time with your child looking at and talking about photosatdifferentstagesofthechild’slife.Pointoutchangesseenfromonestagetoanother.ThankGodformaking us strong as we grow.

Remindthechildthattheyareneveralone.Godisalways with them.

Ask your child to tell you a time when they were happy, excited,orafraid?HowdidGodhelpthem?

Seek and accept help when needed.

It’s good to ask for help.

Godwillhelpyou. Wedonotknowwhattodo,butwearelookingtoyouforhelp.2Chronicles20:12(NLT)

Youpayattentiontotheircriesforhelp.Psalm10:17(CEV)

Ipraytoyou,God,becauseyouwillhelpme.Psalm17:6(CEV)

Askyourchildtotellyouwhentheyneedhelp.Letthemknowwhenyouneedhelp.RemindthemthatGodcanhelpthem, too.

Letthemhelpyoufoldlaundry,matchthesocks,setthetable, make their bed or help with meals.


Child to:


Take responsibility for personal items and materials at home, school and other places.

Be responsible for their things.

Godhasaplaceforall things.

I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place.Psalm8:3(CEV)

AndGodsaid,“Letthewaterundertheskybegathered to one place and let dry ground appear.”Genesis1:9(NIV)

Have your child help you organize toys, clothes, and supplies to decide where they belong.

Workonkeepingthingsinplace,andreturningthemtowhere they belong after you use them.

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Know first and last name.

Knowtheirname and why it is important.

Godlovesyouandhe knows your name.

I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;youareMine.Isaiah43:1(NKJV)

From the day I was born, I have been in your care and from the time of my birth, you have beenmyGod.Psalm22:10(CEV)

And I praise you for the wonderful way you createdme.Psalm139:14(CEV)

Have child look in a mirror. Talk about the different parts of theirfaceandwhateachpartdoes(eyessee;earshear;etc.)TaketimetothankGodformakingyou.

Tell your child why they have their name. How was it chosen and what makes their name special?

Follow rules and routines.

Follow directions and obey.

Godlikesobedience.

TeachmetofollowLordandleadmeontherightpath.Psalm27:11(CEV)

YouaretheLord’speople.Obeyhimandcelebrate!Psalm33:1(CEV)

TheLordprotectseveryonewhofollowshim.Psalm1:6(CEV)

Playafollow-the-leadergamewithyourchild.Insteadofthechildfollowingyou,havethemfollow2-3stepdirectionsgiven.

Praisethemforfollowingdirections.

Build a daily schedule with your child and follow it. Talk about what time you wake up, eat meals, take a bath, go to bed, etc.


Child to:


Take care of toileting needs and wash hands.

Know street address.

Get along with others.

Be healthy and clean.

Knowaboutsafety at home.

Be a good friend.

Godwantsustotake care of ourselves.

Godhasaplacefor you and he will keep you safe.

Godisourfriend.

Youalwayshealthemandrestoretheirstrengthwhentheyaresick.Psalm41:3(CEV)

Ipraythatyoualsomayenjoygoodhealth.3John1:2(NIRV)

MyhelpcomesfromtheLord…Hewhowatchesoveryouwon’tgettired.Psalm121:2,3(NIRV)

Letmeliveinyourhouseeverydayofmylifetoseehowwonderfulyouare.Psalm27:4(CEV)

Godisourplaceofsafety.Psalm62:8(CEV)

Yourkindnessandlovewillalwaysbewithmeeach day of my life, and I will live forever in your house,Lord.Psalm23:6(CEV)

Treat people in the same way that you want themtotreatyou.Luke6:31(CEV)

God keepsaneyeonhis friends…Psalm34:8(MSG)

Don’t fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you.1Corinthians15:33(MSG)

Find a book about healthy living and read it to your child. Talk about things to do to stay well.

TalkaboutwaysGodhelpsuswhenwearesick.(doctors,medicine,etc.)

Teach your child to wash their hands often.

Insidethehouse,talktothemaboutsafetytips–plantafireescape route, caution about hot water, oven, and electricity; knowhowtodial911;lockdoors,etc.Talkwiththemaboutbeing safe at home.

Talk about places in your home that are safe and comfortable and ask your child what they like about them.

Invite your child’s friend over and teach them about sharing their toys.

Draw a picture or make a gift and share it with a neighbor.

AskGodtochoosefriendsforyouandforyourchild.

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Child to:

Physical And Motor Development

Climb, balance on one foot, hop, jump and run.

Be strong and healthy.

Godhasgivenusmany ways to move and be strong.

ButthosewhohopeintheLORDwillrenewtheirstrength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk andnotbefaint.Isaiah40:31(NIV)

DaviddancedbeforetheLordwithallhismight.2Samuel6:14.(NLT)

The Lord will hold your hand,and ifyoustumble,youstillwon’tfall.Psalm37:24(CEV)

Createanobstaclecoursewithyourchild.Labelitwithwordslikehop,run,jumpin,andjumpout.Then,modelthose actions for your child.

Dance with your child using music and props.

Talk with your child about what makes us strong. Exercise together.

Take a walk with your child, hold their hand and talk about what you see and how much you love them.

Throw, bounce and catch a ball.

Develop eye and hand coordination.

Godisourstrength. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.Philippians4:13 (NIV)

Don’tfeelbad.ThejoyoftheLordisyourstrength.Nehemiah8:10(MSG)

Playballwithchild,beginningwithlargeballs.Firsttryrolling, bouncing and catching, and then, catching a ball bounced by someone else.

Fill and empty containers with sand or water.

Recognizewhat is empty and full.

Godfillsuswithhislove and wants us to share his love with others.

Youfillmycupuntilitoverflows.Psalm23:5(CEV)

Youtakecareofthelandandwaterit.Youmakeitveryrich.Youfillyourstreamswithwater.Psalm65:9(NIRV)

God toldthem,“I’veneverquitlovingyouandneverwill.Expectlove,love,andmorelove!Jeremiah31:3(MSG)

Provideyourchildwithdifferentsizedcups,sifters,funnels,scoops, and bowls and let them explore with sand or water play.

Playinthebathtubwithcupsandpracticepouringandfilling.

TalkwithyourchildabouthowGodpourshisloveoverusand helps us to pour love on others.

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Child to:


Build with five blocks.

Learnhowtobuild and balance blocks.

Godisthebuilderofour lives.

UnlesstheLordbuildsahouse, theworkofthebuildersiswasted.Psalm127:1(NLT)

It takes wisdom to build a house, and under-standingtosetitonafirmfoundation.Proverbs24:4(MSG)

Provideavarietyofdifferentsizedblocksforyourchildandwork with them to build a house, a tower, or a wall.

Talk with your child about the importance of building homes(andyourlife)onastrongfoundation.

Show your child pictures of structures and try to build them together using blocks.

Use pencils, cray-ons, paint brushes and markers on blank paper.

Be creative and imaginative.

God’sworldiscolorful.

Inthebeginning,Godcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.Genesis1:1(NIV)

NowIsraellovedJosephmorethanallhischildren ….he made him a coat of many colors. Genesis37:3(NKJV)

Take a walk with your child and point out all the colors that you see together.

TellyourchildthestoryofJosephinGenesis37andthecoat that his father gave him. Ask your child to draw what they think the coat might look like.

Draw and paint on plain construction paper with fat markers, bushes, and crayons. Celebrate original creations andefforts!

Try to write using pencils, crayons and markers.

LoveGod’sword.

God’swordistrue. EverywordofGodprovestrue.Proverbs30:5(NLT)

InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.John1:1

Surroundyourchildinprint-richenvironmentswithpens,crayons, and markers. Accept scribbles as writing.

Letthemobserveyoumakingandusinglistsandwritingnotes and read your notes aloud.

Writeanotetoyourchild.TeachhowthescripturesareGod’snotetous.

Create with play dough or clay by rolling, patting and squeezing.

Be artistic and creative.

Godcreatedeverything and every person.

Wearetheclay,andyouarethepotter.Weallareformedbyyourhand.Isaiah64:8(NLT)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, Iknowthatfullwell.Psalms139:14(NIV)

Have fun with play dough. Use rolling pins and tools for molding and shaping dough. Talk to your child about how Godmadeandshapedeachoneofus.Askthemtoshapesomething with clay.

ReadtheStoryofCreation(Genesis1-2)withyourchild.Make your own drawings or creations.

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Child to:


Cut paper with scissors.

Shape and create things.

Godshapesus. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John15:2 (NIV)

TalkabouthowGodshapesusbytakingawaywhathedoesn’t want and making us even better.

Practicecuttingbygettingsomeclayandcuttingdoughlogs, making fringe cuts on a paper bag vest, or cutting strips of “grass” for a picture.

As your child gets more comfortable with scissors, try cut-tingshapes:circles,squares,snowflakes,etc.

Button, snap and zip clothing.

Learnhowtodress by themselves.

Godhasapurposefor everything.

Everything on earth has its own time and its ownseason.Ecclesiastes3:1(CEV)

Have your child play with and compare their clothes—warmcoatsvs.bathingsuits;flip-flipsvsboots;shirtsvs.pants.

Talk about the seasons and put on the right clothes for different seasons. Button, snap, and zip.

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Acknowledgements

ThankstoSmartBeginningsSouthHamptonRoadsfortheirvisioninproducingtheoriginalFaithfulBeginningsReadinessGuide.

Most importantly, many thanks to all of the faith community leaders, schools and congregationswhocontributedtheirprayers,resourcesandtimetothisproject,especially our Faithful Beginnings Readiness Guide team.

ThankstoTheZondervanCorporationforuseofthescripturesthroughtheironlineresource,BibleGateway.com.

Translationsinclude:ContemporaryEnglishVersion(CEV)•TheMessage(MSG)•NewCenturyVersion(NCV)•NewInternationalReadersVersion(NIRV)

NewInternationalVersion(NIV)•NewLivingTranslation(NLT)•NewKingJamesVersion(NKJV)

Copyright©2013E3:ElevationEarllyEducation.Allrightsreserved.

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Family Activity Journal

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Family Activity Journal

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www.E3VA.org12SouthThirdStreet|Richmond,VA23219|804-210-1820

Teach your children right from wrong,and when they are grown,

they will still do right.– Proverbs 22:6

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